MPR News with Angela Davis

The psychology of sticking to your goals

Times Square New Year's Eve 2022 Celebration
Revelers wearing masks take a selfie during the Times Square New Year's Eve 2022 celebration in New York.
Arturo Holmes | Getty Images

What’s on your list of New Year's resolutions? Do you want to spend less and save more? Do you plan to get in shape? Lose some weight? Read more books? Stay in better touch with loved ones? Eat healthier? Work more? Relax more? 

Whatever kind of change you want to make, saying it out loud is the first step. Committing to getting it done is the second step. The third step? Well, that’s the hardest step of all, isn’t it? Sticking to your goals so that you can reach them is difficult for everyone. But understanding the psychology of sticking to your goals will help you get there. 

Host Angela Davis talks with three experts on establishing and meeting your goals for 2022. 

Guests: 

  • Theresa Nutt is a graduate faculty for the University of Minnesota’s Integrative Health and Wellbeing coaching program.

  • Ayelet Fishbach is the Jeffrey Breakenridge Keller Professor of Behavioral Science and Marketing at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and the author of “Get it Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation.” 

  • Chris Farrell is the senior economics contributor at MPR News.

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Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.